KMBC: Saint Luke’s celebrates 800th heart transplant

Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute reached a huge milestone by just reaching it's 800th heart transplant. Doctors were quick to say they’re not celebrating 800 surgeries – they’re celebrating 800 people who got to keep living their lives.

“There was a lot of questions about whether I would make my daughter’s wedding, and she was upset about it because she loves her dad very much,” said Henry Myers, recipient of the 800th heart. 

Myers had congestive heart failure. Four days ago he got a new heart, and he couldn’t be more grateful.

Dr. Andrew Kao is Medical Director for Saint Luke’s heart transplant program. He still considers each one a miracle.

“If you think how amazing, you have a heart sitting in an ice bucket, and you suture it to the person, it’s not their heart,” Kao said. “But as soon as you warm up the blood, the heart starts pumping.”

Watch the full story from KMBC below.

 

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